Key holder



Sept. 19, 1933. H. w. ZEMMERMAN KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 10, 1951.

Patented Sept. 19,1933

UNITED STATES Application December 10, 1931 Serial N0. 580,016

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in key holders and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended'claims.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for holding a plurality of keys in a compact condition for carrying in the pocket and which may be easily manipulated to make the desired key readily available for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of this kind, including a runner by which the keys are projected from the casing for use, the runner so coasting with said casing as to lock the keys against undesired movement with respect to the casing while being carried in the pocket.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder for this purpose, which includes a substantially flat flexible envelope-like casing, open at one end and having a slot in one of the walls thereof, through which a part of a key supporting means projects for engagement by a runner whereby the supported means may be projected from and retracted into the casing as desired.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved holder with the parts in the position they occupy when the holder is in condition for carrying in the pocket.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in the position they occupy when the runner has been manipulated to project the keys from the casing.

"Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation of the same with the rear wall shown as broken away to more clearly show the structure Within the casing of the holder.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through thesame as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig.5 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view through'the same as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In general, my improved key holder as here illustrated, includes a fiat, flexible envelope-like casing open along one end and a part of each side. In one of the walls of the casing is a slot extending toward said open end and preferably this slot is defined or bordered by a metallic plate. Inside .of leather.

PATENT OFFICE the casing is a key hook supporting plate formed with an eye which projects through the slot and is pivotally engaged by a runner. This runner is so formed in connection with the slot defining plate that when it is disposed at one end of the slot and is folded down against the casing, it is locked against movement. When the runner'is swung about its connection with said eye, away from said casing, said runner may be moved along the slot to project the key hook supporting plate so that the desired key is readily available for use.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the improved holder includes a rela- 7O tively fiat flexible casing 1 comprising front and rear wall members 2 and 3 respectively, preferably Said members taper toward the top end and are stitched along the top and the greater part of each side as at 4 so as to be open at the bottom or wider end. In this instance, front and rear are used merely as a convenience in distinguishing between the two wall members of the casing.

In the front wall member 2 of the holder on its longitudinal median line is provided a narrow slit or slot 5. Secured to the outer surface of said front member so as to surround said slot and brace the wall member 2 at this point is an elongated metallic plate 6 having a slot 7 therein coinciding with the slot 5. This plate is provided with prongs 8 which are inserted through the material of the wall member 2 from the front face thereof and are then bent over upon the rear face thereof as best shown in Fig. 4, to secure said plate to said wall member. The top end of said plate is provided with depressions or recesses 9-9, one on each side of the top end of the slot 7.

Within the casing is located a key hook supporting plate 10 of the desired width, curled at its bottom end about a pintle 11, said plate being cut away at laterally spaced points to provide openings 12 for the top ends of the key supporting hooks 13 of the spring finger type. Each of these hooks is adapted to detachably receive a key 14, in the manner well-known. Centrally at the top end of said plate is an opening 15 to receive a part of an eye or loop 16. This eye or loop has its'ends bent over upon the rear face of the hook supporting plate 10 as best shown in Fig. 3.

Associated with said eye, on the outside of the front cover members 2 is a tab-like runner mem ber 17 having an opening 18 at one end and through which the eye 16 extends. Said end of said runner member is bent over to provide fingers or detents 1.9 one on each side of said opening 18. When the runner member is disposed substantially parallel with the cover member 2, the detents or fingers l9 engage in the recesses 9 and the parts are so correlated that so long as the runner is in said position, it cannot be moved longitudinally of the slot in the plate as the fingers 19 can not clear said recesses. However, when the runner is swung outwardly away from the member 2 about its connection with the eye 16, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, said fingers can clear said depressions or recesses so that the runner may be moved toward the bottom end of the slot.

When the runner is so moved as shown in Fig. 2, this will carry the plate 10 and hooks 13 with it, to project the keys l l outwardly beyond the open bottom end of the easing into a position ready for use for their intended purpose. As there are no depressions or recesses in the bottom end of theplate 6, the runner stands in said dotted line position and when it is desired to retract the keys back into the casing, the runner is moved upwardly in the slot. When it reaches the top end of the slot, it may be turned about its connection with the eye 16 as a pivot and the runner fingers or detents then enter the recesses or depressions after which the runner may be swung down into a position against the plate 6 to be locked against further movement.

The device maintains the keys against bunching or entangling and provides a flat non-bulky article for carrying in the pocket and which cannot accidently open while so being carried.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative only, so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and having a slot therein extending toward said end, a key receiving supporting element disposed inside the casing and having a part extending into said slot and a runner disposed outside said casing and operatively engaged with said part of said element for moving the same longitudinally of said slot, and means at one end of said slot on the outside of the casing for engaging the runner to releasably hold it against movement from said end of the slot.

2. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and comprising front and rear relatively nected with said part of saidelement for moving the same longitudinally of said slots, said runner and plate having parts adapted to interengage with each other when said runner is at one end of said slots to hold said runner against movement toward the other end of said slots.

3. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and comprising front and rear, relatively flexible wall members, one of said wall members'having a slot therein extending toward said end, a metallic plate secured to said wall member and having a slot therein coinciding with the slot in said wall member, and which plate is provided with a depression on one side of one end of the slot therein, a key receiving supporting element disposed in said casing and having a part extending out through said slots in said wall member and plate respectively and a runner disposed outside the plate and pivotally connected to said part of said element, said runner having a part so formed as to engage in said depression in said plate to hold said runner member' against longitudinal movement toward the other end of said slots.

4. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and comprising front and rear relatively flexible wall members, one of said wall members having a slot therein extending toward said end, a metallic plate secured to said one of said members and having a slot therein coinciding with the slot in said wall member, a key receiving supporting element disposed in said casing, means providing an eye operatively connected to said element and extending out through said slots in said wall member and plate respectively and a runner pivotally connected to said eye for moving said element longitudinally of said slots, said runner and plate member having parts formed to interengage each other when said runner is at one end of the slot to hold the runner against movement toward'the other end of said slots.

5. A keyholder comprising a casing open at one end and comprising front and rear, relatively flexible wall members, one of said wall members having a slot therein extending toward said end, a metallic plate secured to said one of said members and having a slot therein coinciding with the slot in said member, a plate member disposed in said casing, key receiving hooks supported from said plate member, means providing an eye operatively connected to said plate.

member and extending out through said slots in said wall memberand metallic plate respectively, and a runner disposed outside said metallic plate and pivotally engaged with said eye for moving said plate member longitudinally of said slots, said runner and metallic plate hav- 7 ing parts adapted to interengage with each other when the runner is at one end of said slots for holding said runner against movement toward the other end of said slots.

6. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and including relatively flexible front and rear wall members, one of said wall mem bers having a slot therein extending in the direction of the open end of the casing,,a metallic plate disposed upon the outside of said one ofsaid members and including prongs extending through thesame, said metallic plate having a slot therein coinciding with that in said'wall member and also having a depression on each side of one end or" said slot, a key receiving sup porting element disposed in said casing and having a part connected thereto forming an eye extending out through said slots and a runner 1 member disposed outside said metallic plate and.

pivotally connected to said eye for moving-said element longitudinally of said slots, said runner being so formed adjacent its connection with said eye as to extend into said depression so as to hold said runner against movement toward the other end of, said slots. j 7. A key holder comprising a casing open at one end and having a slot therein extendingtoward said end, a key receiving supporting eleon said runner adapted to engage in said recess when said runner is arranged substantially parallel with said casing for releasably holding the element against undesired movement in the direction of said slot.

HERMAN W. ZIMMERMAN. 

